The Housing Management Panel for the Central Area of Brighton and Hove City Council met to discuss housing performance, health and safety compliance, and resident concerns. Councillor Ellen McLeay, Co-Chair, and other members reviewed actions from the previous meeting, and discussed resident questions on topics such as anti-social behaviour, housing allocations, and contractor conduct. The panel also received updates on the Estate Development Budget and Environmental Improvement Proposals.

Anti-social behaviour and housing allocations

A central issue raised by residents concerned the allocation of tenancies to individuals with known histories of anti-social or criminal behaviour. Residents expressed concerns that the council's current allocations policy does not adequately consider the safety and well-being of existing tenants.

Specifically, the panel discussed a case at Ardingly Court, where a convicted drug dealer was housed in the same block as vulnerable residents. Residents reported feeling unsafe and unsupported, and criticised the council for not taking their concerns seriously.

In response, the council acknowledged the residents' concerns and stated that the Housing Allocations Policy includes safeguards to prevent tenancies being granted to individuals where there is a known ongoing risk of anti-social behaviour or criminal activity. However, they also emphasised the need to balance the protection of communities with the responsibility to help people find safe and stable homes.

The council committed to reviewing its procedures for checks on individuals with a history of anti-social behaviour and tenancy breaches, and to involving area panels in this review.

A similar issue was raised in relation to a tenant at Sylvan Hall, who allegedly set fire to their flat and had a history of similar behaviour. Residents questioned why this tenant was re-housed in another block of flats, despite their known history.

The council responded that they could not discuss individual cases, but reiterated that they take all reports of anti-social behaviour seriously and that they have procedures in place to assess the risk posed by potential tenants.

High-rise block safety and rehousing

Residents raised concerns about the safety of high-rise blocks in the city, particularly those with large panel systems (LPS). This follows a Cabinet report recommending that the council develop plans to regenerate these sites. The eight LPS blocks are:

• Dudeney Lodge and Nettleton Court in Hollingdean
• Falcon Court, Heron Court, Kestrel Court, Kingfisher Court and Swallow Court in north Whitehawk
• St James's House in Kemptown

Residents wanted to know why the council had previously claimed that these high-rise blocks were safe, and were now saying they were not. They also asked how the council would re-house people living in those blocks, and whether these people would take priority over people on the waiting list for tenancies.

The council responded that resident safety was their priority and that they had been in regular contact with residents living in the LPS blocks since July 2024, providing building safety updates following a series of structural surveys. They stated that they had acted on the advice of independent consultants to secure the safety of the buildings, and had put in place additional safety measures, such as a temporary ban on e-bikes and e-scooters, monitored CCTV, and waking watch¹ patrols.

The council also stated that they were committed to working with residents every step of the way throughout the rehousing process, and that their priority was to provide support and help tenants remain within their local communities. They are developing a Local Lettings Plan and Rehousing Policy, which will outline how they intend to help residents living in the LPS blocks to move, and the support available to them. Rehousing will begin in the new year and will be carried out in phases, starting with St James House.

Estate Development Budget and Environmental Improvement Proposals

The panel received an update on the Estate Development Budget (EDB), which provides funding for community projects and activities. The report detailed quick bids and main bids completed and outstanding in each area (Central, East, North, and West).

For the Central area, quick bids completed since the last quarter included activity tasters at Somerset Point, benches at Ardingly Court, gardening supplies for the Essex Place Gardening Club, and yoga mats and bingo club for The Esswick Management Committee. Main bids completed included community room items and garden refurbishment at Albion Life, a music in connection project at Brooke Mead, and repurposing apiary project at Craven Vale.

The report also provided a summary of the budget by area for the new financial year 2025/26, with the remaining funds for each area.

The panel also discussed Environmental Improvement Proposals (EIP), which provide funding for environmental improvements in council housing areas. The report detailed approved proposals carried forward, proposals awaiting consultation, and proposals rejected.

Contractor conduct

Residents raised concerns about council contractors turning up at people's homes without any ID or prior notification. This issue was highlighted by an incident involving an elderly woman living in Godwin Road, where contractors sub-contracted by the council arrived without ID or prior notification, asking for access.

Residents asked why this was still happening despite previous assurances from the council that it takes the issue seriously, and what monitoring the council does to ensure that contractors and sub-contractors are ensuring that maintenance teams have ID and give prior notification of visits.

The council responded that all contractors visiting properties to carry out works on behalf of the council should be carrying clear identification, and that they take every enquiry seriously and are committed to addressing concerns raised by residents. They stated that they conduct regular review meetings with all contractors to monitor performance, address concerns, and ensure compliance with agreed standards. The contractor in question uses a text messaging system to notify residents in advance, but this system depends on having up-to-date mobile contact details and may not work for landlines.

Other issues

• Ardingly Court over-55s status: Residents of Ardingly Court wished to reinstate the over-55s designation for their blocks, as well as having a 'sensitive lets' grading. The council responded that Ardingly Court remains as an over 50 age restricted block for properties let in accordance with the Allocations Policy, via Homemove. The age restriction only applies to non-mobility rated flats.
• Restructuring of resident engagement: Central residents were concerned that a restructuring of Residents' Engagement is taking place without proper discussion and involvement of residents. The council responded that they should have done better in how they've talked to residents about their engagement review, and that the presentation given wasn't meant to be a final decision about what will happen, but rather the start of a conversation.
• Lack of council action to prevent violent attack: Residents raised concerns about a lack of council action around individuals who posed a serious threat to residents, following an attack at Hampshire Court. The council responded that they were made aware of rough sleepers gathering near the laundry room area, but not specifically within the car park itself. They also stated that as soon as they were informed of the incident, their Car Parks & Garages Manager contacted Sussex Police to request their attendance.
• How do residents get action?: West residents active in their Associations and local areas are increasingly frustrated by the difficulty of getting anything done. The council responded that they recognise that residents are frustrated by long waits to get things sorted, poor communication about delays, issues going round in circles, and feeling unheard and unsupported. They are using their Better Homes approach to tackle this.